My Town

'Homeless' dog story a hoax, Santa Cruz shelter says

By Cathy Kelly, Santa Cruz Sentinel

Posted:
12/19/2012 11:10:12 AM PST

Updated:
12/19/2012 11:10:43 AM PST

SANTA CRUZ -- Animal shelter officials said an ill Springer spaniel brought to the shelter last week by a woman who said she found it tied to a pole in downtown Santa Cruz with a "homeless" sign tied around its neck was actually the dog's owner, who made up the story to avoid veterinary, surrender and/or euthanasia fees.

But after news of the dog's abandonment and subsequent euthanasia was released, the shelter received information that indicated the black and white spaniel belonged to the woman that brought it in, said Melanie Sobel, manager of the county animal shelter.

The owner then admitted fabricating the story about her dog, Chelsea, Sobel said.

"The owner had recently brought the dog to a veterinarian who had recommended euthanasia due to the 15-year-old dog's advanced stage of cancer," she said. "Since the owner had recently received veterinary care for the dog, no criminal charges will be filed."

Sobel said she wanted to remind people that the shelter is an "open admission safe haven for animals that never turns any animal away that comes to its doors."

She said it is always willing to work with people to reduce or waive fees if they have financial hardship.

"This is tragic. It really is," Sobel said. "If she had just come to us, we would have waived the fee and could have put the dog down in her company, versus it being alone in a cage for four days.

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"There is never a reason to abandon an animal or

lie about it," Sobel said. The shelter by law had to hold the dog for four days since it was a stray, she said.

But it had advanced-stage cancer with an erupted tumor for which there is no treatment, Sobel said.

She said they tried to make Chelsea as comfortable as possible, but she was not eating or drinking nor responding well to pain medication. The dog was brought in Wednesday and euthanized Sunday, she said.

The owner was not homeless, Sobel said.

"The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter also wants to point out that the irresponsible actions of this owner have possibly shed a negative light on homeless animal owners in our community," she said. "Most of these owners, while they don't have a place to call home, are often responsible and loving caretakers."

When brought to the shelter Wednesday, Chelsea was wearing what is known as an Elizabethan collar, a protective medical device aimed at keeping a dog from biting or licking its wounds.

The dog had a severe open wound on its underside that had been wrapped with a bandage but had become infected. The wound was cleaned and the dog was placed on pain medication and antibiotic, but she ultimately had to be put down, Sobel said.

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter operates two open admission shelters and will take in any stray, unwanted, mistreated, neglected or abandoned animal. The shelter provides emergency response to rescue sick, injured and mistreated animals 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The shelters are at 2200 Seventh Ave. in Santa Cruz and 580 Airport Blvd. in Watsonville.